Moving Supplies

Packing Materials You’ll Need

Getting ready for a move can take a lot of planning and preparing. You want to ensure that you’ve chosen the right moving company and that everything will go smoothly. However, once that’s complete, you need to start getting your home ready for the movers to arrive. The first item on your “to-do” list will likely entail purchasing or collecting the packing materials you’ll need to pack your items.

Most likely, the packing materials you’ll need will be four basic items. However, as people’s belongings have expanded, so have the need for specialized packing products such as mirror boxes and wardrobe boxes. You can determine whether or not it’s worth it for you to spend the extra money on specialized packaging—if the item is extremely valuable or will save you lots of time, it’s likely worth the price.

The Basics of the Packing Materials You’ll Need

The most important items for packing your belongings are cartons or boxes. Cartons are the most useful for most everything in the house from CDs, books, bedding, clothes, dishes, etc. However, it is extremely important that you only use quality, sturdy boxes to move your things. In order to save time and money, all the boxes should have lids or flaps that can be taped down, so they can be stacked and carried efficiently.

Liquor and grocery stores sometimes have boxes that you are welcome to take for free. Again, check the sturdiness of the box—you don’t want your items to fall through. Liquor store boxes generally come with dividers which are excellent for glasses, goblets and small vases. You can start collecting the boxes early, so you can start packing whenever you have some free time.

Another critical item for packing materials is the packing tape. In this case especially, not all tape is equal. You want to ensure that you use heavy-duty gummed tape or cellophane tape. Ideally, it should be at least 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide. This will ensure that your boxes will stay tightly sealed and will have enough strength to securely hold the bottoms of your cartons.

Wrapping paper is another item that you’ll want to use to ensure that your items are protected during the move. The wrapping paper will keep items from bumping into one another while they’re being transported. You can certainly use newspaper or paper towels, but since moving wrapping paper comes in a bulk role, it is likely your most cost-effective solution.

Finally, arguably the most important items to make your move run efficiently are magic markers. If you doing some last-minute packing, you’ll find yourself needing several to keep you going at a steady pace—one per room. The markers will help you label each box and designate the room it is from and where it is to be placed in your new space. Nothing helps more than to arrive to your new home and be able to quickly and easily find sheets and blankets for a bed for a sleepy toddler. The markers are also helpful for labeling things such as dishes with “fragile” on the side or “this side up” for boxes where it isn’t clear.

Extra Packing Materials

There are always extra things that you can purchase that will make your move easier, but they are more of a luxury than a necessity. Items such as bubble wrap, serves the same purpose as wrapping paper, but allows that extra cushion for heirloom china or a valuable vase.

Mirror or art hanging boxes can be purchased to fit the size of these breakable items, but again, with the correct amount of packing paper and padding with simple blankets or rug, it may have the same effect.

Wardrobe boxes are a luxury due to the lack of packing you have to do with them. These special boxes are made extra sturdy with a metal bar that allows you to take your hanging clothes directly from the closets and place them, on the hanger, in the wardrobe box. Again, it’s a nice amenity and will save you time, but it’s not a necessity if it incurs additional costs you can’t afford.

Finding the packing materials you need is as simple as visiting your local moving store or contacting your moving representative who will help you place an order for the supplies. Just remember keeping it simple is sometimes the key to keeping your move easy.